Wednesday, June 27, 2007

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) (18 сообщений)

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  • uTorrent for Mac

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    Lots of the youngsters out there are clogging up the Internet tubes with their torrents and their Rock and Roll music. Sadly, the choice of BitTorrent clients (BitTorrent, in case you aren't familiar, is a distributed peer to peer downloading protocol. The more people who download something, the faster it is for everyone... in theory) on OS X has been missing a biggie: uTorrent. uTorrent is the most popular Bit Torrent client on Windows, and it was recently purchased by BitTorrent, Inc which is a mighty fine stamp of approval if you ask me. Sadly, it isn't available on the Mac. So very, very sad.

    Weep no longer, torrent obsessed Mac fiends! uTorrent is coming to OS X and according to TorrentFreak it is pretty slick. It is faster, smaller, and simpler than the other offerings on OS X and it is free. What's not to like? Ah, right, the fact that it is in closed beta at the moment.
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    http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/27/utorrent-for-mac/#comments



  • Get out of your current cell contract

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    Thank you, Wired.

    The #1 hindering factor in purchasing an iPhone -- at least for most people I know -- is that they're mired in contracts with other, lesser-blessed carriers like Verizon or T-Mobile. And often cancellation fees are steep, too steep to warrant a cancellation just (hah, just) to buy an iPhone. (Imagine tacking $200 to that $600 price tag.) Well, the good folks -- particularly Daniel Dumas -- at Wired has you covered with 8 ethically-questionable-but-incredibly-clever tips to salvage your soul from the wireless devils.

    A few of the gems include changing your address to an area where your provider doesn't offer coverage (nulling the contract); demanding the physical paperwork (if they can't produce it you're free); or faking your own death. Check the full article for more tips, details on how to get it done, and the odds of each tip's success.
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  • iPhone wallpapers

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    While you're waiting to get your hands on an iPhone, why not head on over to the Iconfactory? They just announced iPhone versions of each of their free, high quality, wallpaper images. The pixel pushers over there took the time to artfully crop each image into an iPhone worthy piece of art. At least this way you'll be able to find your iPhone in a pile of the little wonders.
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    http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/27/iphone-wallpapers/#comments



  • Apple posts a boatload of updates

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    Apple just posted a bunch of software updates over at its download site. Updates include Final Cut Pro 6.0.1, Motion 3.0.1 (improves stability, resolves performance issues), Color 1.0.1, Compressor 3.0.1, Soundtrack Pro 2.0.1, a combo-style Pro Applications Update, and a SuperDrive Firmware Update 2.1 (improves readability of certain CD media).

    Thanks Mason Jagel.

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  • iPhone Returns and Cancellation Policies

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    Hey boys and girls, you might be used to trying out phones and getting 30 days to cancel and return the unit (that is, at least, depending on your state of residence). Our Chris tells me that in California, you even get back the activation fee. The iPhone return policy won't be nearly as friendly. Here's a rough-and-ready review of the iPhone policies you should expect.

    iPhone return policy. You have 14 days (not 30) to return your iPhone. It must be returned to the original point of purchase. You can't buy at store #1 and return to store #2. If the iPhone isn't unopened and shrink wrapped, you'll be charged a 10% open box restocking fee. Returns must include the phone, all accessories, and all manuals that shipped with the product.

    Canceling the agreement. If you cancel within 3 days of iPhone activation, You're entitled to a refund of the $36 activation fee. If you cancel within 30 days, you can terminate service without paying a penalty. After 30 days, you must pay an early termination fee of $175. After fulfilling your 2 year agreement, your service switches to a month-to-month automatic renewal.

    Rough Costs

    So here's a rough breakdown of how much you can expect to pay under various return scenarios. I'm using the $499 4GB iPhone in these calculation and the lowest ($60/month) plan. I assume about $10 in fees and taxes (including 911 Tax, Federal Telecom Relay Service Fee, Universal Service Fund, Cost Recovery Fees, etc.) and a 5% sales tax on the unit itself.

    $50.00. Try it out, cancel service, return unit within 3 days.

    $86.00. Try it out, cancel service, return unit within 14 days.

    $561.00. Try it out, keep the phone, cancel service within 30 days. (I assume they don't charge you for that month. If they do, the cost is $631.00.)

    $946.00 Use the iPhone for 3 months, pay $175 termination fee.

    $1576.00. Use the iPhone for 12 months, pay $175 termination fee.

    $2241.00. Use the iPhone for 24 months, no termination fee

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  • MacBook Pros feature a 1.3MP camera sensor

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    Ken at Mac Daddy World confirmed an interesting discovery with a friend recently. Namely, the Santa Rosa MacBook Pros don't feature the same iSight as the previous MBP model

    Pictured at right is a snapshot from System Profiler on my own MBP (a 2.0 GHz Core Duo), above, and Ken's (a Santa Rosa model), below. As you can see, the manufacturer has been changed from "Micron" to "Apple, Inc." Plus, the product ID has changed from "0x8501" to "0x8502."

    But wait, there's more. While Ken was able to produce a VGA (640×480) image with an "older" MacBook Pro featuring the original iSight, the Santa Rosa model produced a much larger 1.3 MP (1280×1024) image (you can see both images at Mac Daddy World). Pretty cool.

    Thanks, Ken!
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  • Gas price widget + remote control tool from PocketMac

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    The fine folks over at PocketMac have released a couple of goodies over the past week. First, a new commercial product, PocketMac Remote: a $9.95 utility to quickly and simply turn your Apple remote into a presentation controller for PowerPoint or Keynote. There are a lot of other tools in this area; the highly-customizable Mira, just reduced to $9.90, is very well regarded, and Sofa Control, the somewhat-pricier Remote Buddy, and the free beta of iRed Lite all can accomplish the same goal. Once I get a chance to test the PocketMac offering against Mira I'll report back on how well it does.

    Secondly, just in time for the summer driving season, the free Gas Pump Genie widget is now among the PocketMac offerings. Gas Pump Genie will download the gas prices for your zip code from GasBuddy.com and present them in an, uh, interestingly designed widget. This is all fine and dandy, except for a few issues:
    • the widget is big, unattractive and possibly frightening to animals and small children
    • you have to register for PocketMac's newsletter to get your download link (bad form!)
    • the data for my immediate area isn't as complete as the pricing info on GasPriceWatch.com; your mileage may vary
    • there's already a perfectly good Gas widget that looks nicer, has more features and won't ask for your email address
    You make the call. Happy motoring!
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  • Rumor: iPhone "wristbands" to be distributed

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    If you're in line with Greg - or any other iPhone line, for that matter - this may be of interest to you. According to the modmyiPhone forums, Apple Store employees will be distributing color-coded wristbands to iPhone customers. Shoppers will be let into the stores 50 at a time until the supply of iPhones ends. Forum poster Poetic Folly claims to know that his local store is getting 500 units.

    Other details as reported by modmyiPhone:
    • The line will form at the entrance of the mall closest to the outside of the Apple store.
    • Wristbands will be distributed in the line at 5pm on Friday.
    • The first 50 customers will be let into the Apple Store at 5:50pm and then more groups of 50 following that until the store closes that night.
    Plus, my personal favorite, "...There will be a restroom(s) brought in for access to the outside entrance where the line will be." Nice.

    [Via ifoAppleStore]
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  • Hazel 2.0 beta released with application uninstalling, tons of new features

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    Hazel is one of those truly clever, useful apps that I think could make the Mac computing world a better place if everyone bought a license (and used it, of course). If you haven't seen our previous coverage, Hazel is - in a nutshell - your "personal housecleaner," allowing you to specify rules for moving and organizing your files just like you would with Mail messages. For a basic example, you could create a rule that watches your Desktop for downloaded files types like .ZIP, .DMG, .SIT, etc., and automatically move them to a Software folder once they're a day old. Hazel's abilities don't stop there, however; not by a long shot. Hazel can automatically import image files into iPhoto, music into iTunes, add Spotlight comments, organize files into folders and even subfolders, add Finder color labels to files, run AppleScripts and so much more. Hazel can even manage your Trash for you by setting a specific time frame after which older (but not all) files should be deleted, or even a size limit that the Trash should be kept under (say, 2 GB). All this is done completely and transparently in the background, allowing you to get things done while Hazel works its magic.

    Have I piqued your interest? Good, because Paul Kim at Noodlesoft has just released a much-anticipated Hazel 2.0 update in beta with some significant new features. At the top of my personal list is full-blown support for uninstalling an application and the ability to preview rule matches so you can polish your criteria before flipping the switch. Read on for details on these killer new features and more.

    Continue reading Hazel 2.0 beta released with application uninstalling, tons of new features

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  • Why the iPhone Will Fail

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    With all the mostly glowing and semi-glowing reviews starting to come in about the iPhone, I thought it might be interesting to read and provide to you a little counter perspective. Not that reading this article at Suckbusters gave me much reason to doubt my love for all-things iPhone, but its still nice to hear opposing viewpoints -- especially those that actually make a bit of sense and some good arguments.

    In the article, author David Platt outlines three key reasons for his prediction that the iPhone "is going to be a bigger marketing flop than Waterworld and Ishtar combined." If you know those movies, that's saying quite a bit. That said, what are his three key reasons? For starters, he complains that the designers of the iPhone have ignored the simplicity and ease of use demonstrated by the iPod and have instead designed a device that is not simple or easy to use.

    Second, he feels the iPhone "crams" too many features into a single unit which when used in combination will require "far more dedication than a user is willing to invest and remember." This, he says, "condemns the iPhone to a tiny niche at best." Lastly, Platt laments the iPhone's touch screen and lack of "tactile feedback" which will force users to look at the screen at all times while using it -- something, he says, they will "detest."

    Some valid points to be sure and perhaps worthy of consideration. But does any of it change your opinion about the iPhone? Or is it still the shiny, touch-screened soon-to-be love of your life it always was?
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    Комментарии к сообщению:
    http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/27/why-the-iphone-will-fail/#comments



  • Lightroom 1.1 is available

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    Lightroom has been updated to version 1.1, and with it comes a very long list of changes. James Duncan Davidson has taken a good look at the update at Inside Lightroom. Here are a few highlights.
    • View the shutter, aperture, and ISO settings you use most often instantly
    • Template Browsers in the Slideshow, Print, and Web module are now hierarchical
    • By default, slide shows will only include the selected photos (if there is more than one photo selected)
    • Various clarity and sharpening improvements
    As I said, that's just a small portion of the very long list of improvements that version 1.1 offers. What's more, John Gruber said the process of upgrading from version 1.0 was "...super simple." What more could you want?

    [Via Daring Fireball]
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    Комментарии к сообщению:
    http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/27/lightroom-1-1-is-available/#comments



  • No SIM swapping before iPhone activation

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    Were you planning on buying an iPhone, bringing it home and immediately swapping out the SIM card? AT&T says no. Their recently posted iPhone FAQ states that your iPhone must be activated (i.e. through iTunes, with a credit card and a two year calling plan) before the phone can be used. You can't just swap out your current SIM card and start right away. Apple's Q&A adds (rather unhelpfully) that you "should use the SIM card that came preinstalled in the iPhone", giving no hint as to whether a SIM swap is possible.

    As I posted yesterday, activating the iPhone restarts the 2-year calling plan clock, regardless of whether you're an existing customer or not.

    Thanks, Ryan Valle.

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  • GoPhones are no go for iPhone upgrades

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    It sounded good. Buy an inexpensive GoPhone and transfer service to an iPhone, add the $20/month data plan and save roughly a thousand dollars over the two-year contract period. Things that sound good are often too good to be true. This was. Today, AT&T officially announced that GoPhones are no-go as far as iPhone upgrades are concerned. GoPhone customers cannot transfer their service, instead, they must activate their iPhone as a new account with a new phone number.

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  • iTunes 7.3 to debut

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    The updated iPhone specifications page indicates that we should expect to see a new 7.3 update of iTunes, likely before this weekend. Just as 7.1 introduced Apple TV support and 7.2 introduced iTunes Plus, 7.3 brings iPhone functionality to the table. In case you missed this marvelous TUAW iTunes retrospective the first time round, step back in history and review iTunes from version 0.0 all the way up to 7.0.

    Thanks, Fraser Drew.

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    Комментарии к сообщению:
    http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/27/itunes-7-3-to-debut/#comments



  • New MacPak bundle up, $5 for 3 mystery apps

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    Mark Howson from The Mac Pak sends word that another mysterious bundle has been posted, this time for the very, very low price of $5.00. The Mac Pak, you'll remember, is one of the more mysterious software deals out there-- you pay the money for three different secret applications, and then at the end of the sale (three days and change as of this writing, so around July 1st), the apps are revealed, and sent to you. Buyer beware, but a fun deal, and I'm not sure I've ever seen one this cheap.

    All we know about the apps this time around is that added together they'd usually cost you over $50, and that's about it. Back in May, the apps were revealed as the sale went along (and the price raised), but there's no indication that's happening this time around-- looks like it's a $5 shot in the dark. Will the low price pull you in, or are you going to pass on buying something you might not want?
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  • Enough with the iPhone already

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    Judging from the uptick in comments/emails we have been recieving as of late there is a small, but vocal, set of TUAW readers who don't give two figs about the iPhone. While that might make us just a little sad, it is understandable. Cell phones just aren't for everyone, and we here at TUAW care about our readers (seriously, if I could hug you through this computer screen I totally would).

    That's why Erica whipped up this iPhone free TUAW feed a few days ago. Since the iPhone coverage is picking up I thought I would remind everyone that it exists, so if you want your TUAW iPhone free just subscribe to this feed (it uses Yahoo! Pipes, so it won't update as fast as our regular feed, but it will contain much less iPhone).

    TUAW loves you.
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  • Apple answers your questions about the iPhone

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    There is no denying that the hype surrounding the iPhone is... well, a bit much. We here at TUAW are as guilty as anyone for contributing to it, but I would point out that it is our job to obessess over Apple (and we do it so well!). All the blame for the hype shouldn't be placed squarely on the tech media though, it is clear Apple is egging us on by slowly releasing information about the iPhone as we get closer and closer to launch (in contrast, Microsoft would have had all this information about the iPhone available the first day it was announced... and no one would have cared).

    The newest news from Apple is this iPhones Questions and Answers section on Apple.com. It answers some typical questions about the iPhone like what OSs the iPhone will work with (Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and OS X), can I used my existing iPod accessories (maybe), and what kind of headphones can I use with it (most standard headphones should work). However, the most exciting thing for the iPhone crazed is the above picture. That's the first clear picture of the iPhone accessories that Apple will be making. We can see the Dock (which included a space for recharging the Apple bluetooth headset), the Apple Bluetooth headset, and the iPhone charger (which looks just like the iPod charger. Sweet!).

    Thanks to everyone for sending this in.

    Update: Engadget has confirmed that the dock seen in the picture is included with the $120 Apple Bluetooth headset.
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  • Ask TUAW: iPhone (of course), reinstalling OS X, migrating iTunes and more

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    This week on Ask TUAW, our weekly Q&A column: an obligatory iPhone question, reinstalling OS X, watching TV on your Mac, transferring your iTunes library, and increasing hard drive capacity.

    Remember: everyone's welcome to post questions for Ask TUAW; we're happy to help! Just leave questions for next week in the comments. Now let's get to it.

    Continue reading Ask TUAW: iPhone (of course), reinstalling OS X, migrating iTunes and more

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